Learning Experience of Ethnically Diverse

¶ … learning experience of ethnically diverse students more enjoyable? Consider specific ideas that might bring a student's ethnicity to the forefront of the class so that others might learn about it.

Students must feel a connection to the learning experience that is personal and visceral. They must feel as if what they are learning about is relevant to their lives. A teacher must make this connection clear in every subject he or she teaches over the course of the school day. Using literature from a wider range of nations and ethnicities than was previously typical in the curriculum is one simple way to make a classroom more inclusive and promote discussion of different cultural values. However, it is not enough to just expand the reading list. The types of assignments and dialogue promoted in the classroom must also be diversity-focused. For example, if teaching an assignment using African folklore, students might be urged to interview family members on folklore from their own heritage or to write a paper comparing the characters of the stories with the protagonists of more typical Western fairytales.

For social studies classes, students can conduct research about subjects directly relevant to their lives. The historical perspective of the class should be inclusive. Even when teaching American history, discussing the impact of America's policies on the rest of the world is essential. Taking stock of the contribution of immigrants that have come from all over the world is essential. Students are more likely to feel like they are included in the fabric of the nation and an American classroom if their personal history is an important part of classroom assignments.

Contemporary civics lessons can also increase student's sense of involvement in the learning process by encouraging students to discuss their cultures in the context of various contemporary political debates. Students can be asked to research and bring in newspaper articles pertaining to their country of origin and hang them on a class bulletin board. This reinforces the idea that reading can help students better understand the world around them. Students can be asked to give formal and informal presentations about cultural differences and practices relevant to their home country. Involving parents is a critical part of learning, and asking parents to come in to give brief talks about unfamiliar holidays and foods from their nation of origin establishes a connection between the classroom and the home environment. It increases the comfort of the parent coming to the school to talk with the teacher, even if English is not the parent's first language.